PLUS The personal tragedy inspiring Bantams' Nahki Wells and how League Two side have turned to a psychologist before Wembley date with Swansea

"It is seriously bad form": Paul Deo's never prayed for a win - and won't start now (Photo: York & County Press)

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By James Nursey

Outspoken Bradford vicar Paul Deo is hoping for a miracle in the Capital One Cup Final – but refuses to pray for a win.

Bantams’ chaplain and announcer Reverend Deo could barely contain his excitement in their wins over Premier League trio Wigan, Arsenal and Villa on the road to Wembley.

And at 4pm on Sunday his team will face another top-flight side, Swansea, with the Welsh team heavy favourites to lift the League Cup.

But, although he knows his side need all the help they can get, he will not be praying for a win.

He said: “It is seriously bad form for a club chaplain to pray for a win. I have never prayed for that.

“But in those four minutes of injury-time at Villa [as Bradford clung on to the 2-1 defeat that was enough to win on aggregate], I came the closest I ever had to praying for my team. And I cried like a baby when the final whistle went.”

His tongue-in-cheek quips have included saying home fans may wish to consider booking hotel rooms for London after the first leg of the semi-final.